Europe: Stocks diverge before rate calls

[LONDON] European stock markets diverged slightly at the open on Thursday, with investors sitting tight before interest rate announcements from the European Central Bank and Bank of England.

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index rose 0.1 per cent to 7,594.20 points shortly after the start of trading, as investors digested also strong earnings, including from British energy major Shell.

In the eurozone, Frankfurt's DAX fell 0.3 per cent to 15,562.27 points and the Paris CAC 40 lost 0.2 per cent to 7,103.60.

AFP